It’s time for the Grand Final and Western Sydney Wanderers’ third appearance in their short four year history!
History
There was little to separate Tony Popovic’s Wanderers and the Championship-winning Reds in 270 minutes of football this season and the two sides enter the eleventh Hyundai A-League Grand Final with a head-to-head record that reads: played twelve, won four, drawn four, lost four.
It’s a fitting sidenote to what looks like the tightest Grand Final contest in several years – it will be the third appearance in a big dance for both sides, and one that has seen thousands in Red & Black make the trip across the Hay Plain.
Live sites
Not travelling to the match and wondering where you can watch the match with fellow Wanderers supporters?
Club Marconi and Blacktown Workers will be hosting a live site for Wanderers supporters to view the game.
If you have children and want more of a family-friendly experience head to Lollipops Parramatta. There will be food and drink specials and discounted entry for Wanderers Members.
Pubs to meet at in Adelaide
Wanderers fans in Adelaide are invited to meet at the Cathedral Hotel and Queens Head Hotel in Adelaide.
The March
Walk and chant to Adelaide Oval with fellow Wanderers at 2.30pm from these two pubs.
Team news
Jaushua Sotirio and Jacob Pepper have been promoted into Tony Popovic’s Grand Final squad. Check out the full team list here.
Adelaide United
With 15 wins, four draws and one loss in their last 20 matches, it’s no surprise Guillermo Amor’s Adelaide enter their third Grand Final as favourites.
The Reds are looking to claim their maiden championship after an incredible turnaround in form saw the side go from wooden spoon certainties to deserved Premiers at the end of the regular season.
Key to this recovery mission was Amor’s success in re-configuring the team’s defensive aptitude after the Premiers leaked 17 goals in the opening eight rounds of the season. Since December, Adelaide have only conceded 12 goals. The side are both equally impressive in pressing situations and in defending deep in long spells without the ball, a game plan executed to perfection in two 0-0 draws at Wanderland this season.
Yet in order to triumph on Sunday the side from the city of churches know they must offer more attacking threat than they have in their past three outings with the Wanderers. Reds frontman Bruce Djite has been in inspired goal scoring form with six goals in his past four games and with the likes of Stefan Mauk and Marcelo Carrusca in complete synchronisation with the target man, Adelaide have the tools to remedy their recent lack of goals against the Red & Black.
Western Sydney Wanderers
Despite some bookies claiming that 90% of money placed has been for Adelaide to win, that means nothing to the Wanderers – remember, in their entire 12-match run to become Asian Champions the Red & Black only went into the match as favourites for a single game.
While many point to recent form to show that Adelaide is the team to beat, Brendon Santalab claims that recent form is the reason the Wanderers will win, with 11 goals in their past three matches.
How to watch
If you’re not in Adelaide you can catch the game live on Fox Sports 505 at 4.00pm AEST, delayed on SBS 2 and streamed online from 4.30pm AEST or listen live on 702 ABC Sydney & ABC Local Radio NSW, Grandstand Digital & Online & via the ABC Radio Mobile App – A-League Live.
